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Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services

12/10/2018 Update:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is continuing the process for Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval for the Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services. After PRA approval is received, we will update this website with the final, approved demonstration information, including a start date for home health agencies in Illinois and instructions on the choice selection process. CMS will provide notice on this website before phasing in the other demonstration states: Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, and Texas.

11/21/2018 Update:

CMS will host a call to discuss the new Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). The presentation is available in the Downloads section below. For more information on the event, please visit the Special Open Door Forums webpage.

11/06/2018 Update:

CMS will host a call to discuss the Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). To register for the event, please visit the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) webpage.

9/26/2018 Update:

CMS is continuing the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval process for the Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services. CMS is posting responses to comments received during the 60-day comment period that began in May 2018, as well as additional operational details on the demonstration. Continuing the PRA approval process, CMS has also posted a 30-day Federal Register Notice here to allow stakeholders an opportunity to review the additional operational details and comment on CMS’ intention to collect information as part of the demonstration. CMS proposes to begin the demonstration on December 10, 2018, in Illinois. After the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, CMS will post responses to the comments received and release additional demonstration details. CMS will continue to post additional information on this website.

5/30/2018 Update:

Following the pause of the Pre-Claim Review Demonstration for Home Health Services on April 1, 2017, CMS worked to revise the Demonstration to offer more flexibility and choice for providers, as well as risk-based changes to reward providers who show compliance with Medicare home health policies. The proposed Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services will give providers in the demonstration states an initial choice of three options – pre-claim review, postpayment review, or minimal postpayment review with a 25% payment reduction for all home health services. A provider’s compliance with Medicare billing, coding, and coverage requirements determines the provider’s next steps under the Demonstration. CMS will implement the Demonstration for the Home Health and Hospice Medicare Administrative Contractor Jurisdiction M (Palmetto) providers operating in Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, and Texas for five years, with the option to expand to other states in the Palmetto/JM Jurisdiction.

The revised Demonstration will assist in developing improved methods to identify, investigate, and prosecute potential fraud in order to protect the Medicare Trust Funds, potentially reduce the rate of improper payments, and improve provider compliance with Medicare rules and requirements. Through either pre-claim or postpayment review, the Demonstration will help make sure that payments for home health services are appropriate.

The Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services should not delay care to Medicare beneficiaries and does not alter the Medicare home health benefit. The Demonstration will not create new clinical documentation requirements. Providers will submit the same information they are currently required to maintain for payment. Under the pre-claim review option, the pre-claim review request may be submitted at any time before the final claim is submitted and can occur after home health services have begun. Under the other review options, the provider will receive an Additional Documentation Request (ADR) and follow the normal processes for claims chosen for review.

CMS has posted a 60-day Federal Register Notice here to allow providers the opportunity to review and comment on CMS’ intention to collect information from the public for the revised demonstration as part of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval process. Additional details on the Demonstration and start dates will be published following PRA approval.